When a family is affected by sexual abuse, the focus is usually on the person who poses a threat.

But a children’s charity is helping women in North Staffordshire who have a relationship with a man who is at risk of harming her children.

The NSPCC’s Women as Protectors service works with mothers and carers when there are concerns about a current or ex-partner, or a member of her family.

Based at Carole House, the charity’s service centre in Basford Park Road, Basford, the programme provides education, emotional support and guidance.

Women take part in group sessions run by an NSPCC professional, followed by ongoing individual support through a trained and supervised volunteer.

Miriam Small, a children’s services practitioner at Carole House

Miriam Small, a children’s services practitioner at Carole House, said: “A woman is referred to us if she’s in contact with a man who poses a sexual risk to her children. Primarily that is a partner, but it could be another family member or a friend.

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“She usually comes to us at the point the male has been arrested or convicted, so she would be feeling confused, upset and betrayed, and quite often in denial.

“Women as Protectors is primarily about group work. The purpose is to provide information about sex offending, and the signs and symptoms, so the woman can make an informed choice about the future of her relationship with that person.”

The NSPCC’s Women as Protectors service works with mothers and carers when there are concerns about a current or ex-partner, or a member of her family could sexually abuse a child (Image: Getty)

The programme also assesses the woman’s understanding of risk and informs the local authority of her ability to safeguard her children.

Miriam added: “We can have up to six women in the group. Those who take part tell us it helps to be in a group where there are other women in a similar situation. We can look at the impact the offender has had on their lives, without them feeling they’re being judged.

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“Quite often these stories have been reported and then there’s a lot of stigma and backlash from their community, often from their friends and family. Lots of people question why they’re staying in the relationship.

Carole House has helped 18 women through the Women as Protectors service

“Quite a lot of our women stay with their partners. We have some women in the group who have been married for 20 years and suddenly everything they thought they knew about that person has been thrown up in the air.

“They are emotionally connected to the perpetrator and often there is financial dependency.

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Carole House has helped 18 women through the Women as Protectors service since its launch in 2015, and six more are currently taking part.

The group sessions last for 10 weeks, while volunteers provide ongoing mentoring for around 12 to 18 months.

Miriam said: “The mentoring is done by volunteers. Six women have received this support and we know it improves the outcomes for the children.

“A woman in this kind of situation can feel isolated, confused and unsure about how to keep her children safe.

“Having a reassuring and supportive person to talk to can make a huge difference. That’s why volunteers are essential to this programme.

“It’s a challenging role but very rewarding. You don’t need any prior mentoring experience. All you need is a willingness to learn and to help, and we’ll give you all the training and support you need.”

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Deanna Barraclough, a social work student at Keele University, has been a volunteer mentor with the service for six months. So far she has worked closely with one mother, who has two young children in her home.

Deanna said: “The more we have met you get an understanding of how you are helping that mum with her confidence.

“I think talking about everything has really helped her. We concentrated a lot on her self esteem. She never really did anything for herself as it was always about trying to do the best for her kids.

“A lot of our conversations were about building her confidence up and now she has made some great progress by doing things like volunteering and courses.”

The Light Up Christmas for Children campaign has been launched

The Sentinel has teamed up with the NSPCC to launch the Light Up Christmas for Children campaign, to help Childline reach as many young people as possible. We're calling on our readers to make a donation by sending a simple text, with just £4 covering the cost of a counsellor responding to a child in need.

Childline is available 24 hours a day on Freephone 0800 1111, and offers a confidential service to any child, or via childline.org.uk, for counselling chat, emails or message boards.

And the NSPCC needs women who are aged over 21 to help them deliver the Women as Protectors service. To find out more, email stokescadmin@nspcc.org.uk or call 01782 958100.